Christmas Party!

Tonight we had the board Christmas party......we didn't have as many as we usually do so it was kind of different this year. We had to cancel last week because of the roads and rescheduled for this week. We did our usual tradition of writing a couple stories. We have everyone go around the room and give a one liner and I write it down and then read them our story. We do a funny one and then a serious one about the reason for the season. Here is our serious one this year:

The angel appeared to Mary and Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant." Proud mother was stricken with joy and happiness. She had a baby in a manger and then there was a bright star in the sky. The shepherds fainted -well it scared the heck out of them. The reason the baby was born in the manger was because there was no room in the inn. Thus fulfilled what the angel had said to Mary when she was stricken with joy and happiness. Remembering the long journey and that there was no room in the inn they found shelter from the weary journey. There were animals...MOO...oink...neigh...neigh (this came from a 2 1/2 year old) a humble place for our humble King of Kings and Lord of Lords to be born. For there were three wisemen that brought gifts. They all came to see him and gave him frankincense, gold and myrrh. The END!

Just thought I would share a fun tradition that we started several years ago at our board Christmas Party's for the ranch.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

We, Jim, Cathy, Andy & Hector would like to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! The boys will be going home for a pretty long Christmas break with their families so pray for them. Pray that they make wise choices and that they help out wherever they can at their family gatherings. Pray that they continue to show their family the changes they have made in their lives because of their relationship with Jesus.

Jim and I are excited to hopefully see one of our past boys over this Christmas break. I wrote about him in the newsletter that I just posted on the website. After I sent this newsletter out he contacted us again and will be in Iowa for Christmas and wants to come out to see us and bring his daughter out to meet us. This is why the heartaches of this ministry are worth every bit of it.

One of our boys and I was having a little heated discussion the other day and he said why do you love us? I said because I do and I will continue. Please pray that this boy will continue to accept this love instead of trying to push it away at times. God's love is unconditional and that is what we have to teach these boys. Some days I will have to say it is not easy but that is what we are called to do and as long as God continues to give us the strength and peseverance we will continue on in this ministry.

Thank you all for your continued support in this ministry.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thankful hearts,